Official Press Release
Role and Legal Framework
The Malta Further and Higher Education Authority (MFHEA) is the national public body entrusted with regulating, licensing, and supervising further and higher education providers and programmes in Malta. Qualifications awarded by MFHEA-accredited institutions are fully aligned with the Malta Qualifications Framework (MQF), which is referenced to the European Qualifications Framework (EQF) and fully embedded in the European Higher Education Area (EHEA). MFHEA’s role as the national quality assurance agency is grounded in law, and the qualifications it endorses are legally recognised in Malta and widely respected across Europe and beyond.
Recognition of Qualifications in Europe
Academic qualification recognition across European countries is governed by national legislation and guided by the Lisbon Recognition Convention (1997), ratified by Malta and all EU Member States. This Convention affirms that qualifications from one country should be recognised in another unless substantial differences can be proven. Thus, qualifications issued by MFHEA-accredited institutions are valid and remain subject to recognition in other countries based on this well-established legal and policy framework.
Value of Maltese Qualifications
It is significant to emphasise that MFHEA-accredited qualifications maintain legal, academic, and professional value. Although registering in EQAR is considered an added value, it is not a legal precondition for the recognition of qualifications in EU Member States or elsewhere. Article 165 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) also confirms that education remains a matter of national competence. Over the past 15 years, Maltese qualifications have been consistently recognised by universities, professional bodies, employers, and regulatory authorities across Europe and internationally. At present, the situation is still the same. Isolated recognition issues have regularly been assisted through structured dialogue and cooperation with relevant institutions.
Commitment to ESG Compliance and Continuous Improvement
MFHEA’s first ever application to EQAR was a proactive and voluntary step to further align with European best practices. While the agency was not registered, the review served as an essential external benchmark. MFHEA uses feedback to enhance its internal systems and operations and has developed an operational plan to address the identified areas. The Authority intends to further its process with EQAR following these improvements, demonstrating its ongoing commitment to transparency, trustworthiness, and quality assurance. MFHEA remains fully engaged in the EHEA and reaffirms its responsibility to support the credibility of Malta’s education system both within Europe and globally.
Date of publication: 16th May 2025